What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil/Olive Fruit Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil/(Angelica Gigas/Licorice/Lithospermum Erythrorhizon) Root Ferment Extract Filtrate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Honey
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Phytate
Sorbitol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Docosahexaenoic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Emollient
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyvinyl Alcohol
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Isoamyl Laurate, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil/Olive Fruit Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil/(Angelica Gigas/Licorice/Lithospermum Erythrorhizon) Root Ferment Extract Filtrate, Sorbitan Olivate, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Honey, Phospholipids, Betaine, Niacinamide, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitol, Gluconolactone, Lactic Acid, Phosphatidylcholine, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Sphingolipids, Xanthan Gum, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Calcium Gluconate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenylpropanol, Phytosphingosine, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Cetyl Palmitate, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sorbitan Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyethylene
Abrasive
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Copper Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Polyethylene, PEG-20 Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, Zinc Gluconate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Copper Sulfate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
